FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: NFL-99 10/27/05 MATT HILL, NFL, 212-450-2080 [email protected]

DAVE DECECCO, PEPSI-COLA, 914-253-2655 [email protected]

NFL.COM VOTERS SELECT BEARS QB KYLE ORTON AS WEEK 7 DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. KYLE ORTON of the is the DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK for games played on October 23-24, the NFL announced today.

Orton completed 15 of 29 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown in the Bears’ 10-6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded his third NFL victory, the second consecutive win for the Bears, throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass to fullback Marc Edwards.

More than 15,680 fans voted this week on NFL.com. Orton was selected from among five finalists. The other finalists were running back RONNIE BROWN of the Miami Dolphins, defensive end CHAUNCEY DAVIS of the , wide receiver-kick returner JEROME MATHIS of the and wide receiver MIKE WILLIAMS of the Detroit Lions.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

This is Pepsi’s fourth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the first year that Diet Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.

2005 DIET PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Wk 1 RB Carnell Williams (Auburn) Wk 2 RB Carnell Williams (Auburn) Wk 3 RB Carnell Williams (Auburn) Wk 4 CB Domonique Foxworth (Maryland) Wk 5 RB Tyson Thompson (San Jose State) Wk 6 LB Odell Thurman (Georgia) Wk 7 QB Kyle Orton (Purdue)

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